Behavior of circular chains of nonlinear oscillators with Kuramoto-like local coupling

Abstract

The conditions under which synchronization is achieved for a one-dimensional ring of identical phase oscillators with Kuramoto-like local coupling are studied. The system is approached in the weakly coupled approximation as phase units. Instead of global couplings, the nearest-neighbor interaction is assumed. Units are pairwise coupled by a Kuramoto term driven by their phase differences. The system exhibits a rich set of behaviors depending on the balance between the natural frequency of isolated units and the self-feedback. The case of two oscillators is solved analytically, while a numerical approach is used for N > 2. Building from Kuramoto, the approach to synchronization, when possible, is studied through a local complex order parameter. The system can eventually evolve as a set of coupled local communities toward a given phase value. However, the approach to the stationary state shows a non-monotonous non-trivial dynamic.